Ellaspede’s Ducati 900SS Looks Like an Ominous Cyborg

While the 2001 model in Ducati’s 900SS lineup isn’t exactly what you’d refer to as a range-topping machine, this bad boy certainly has a few things going for itself. Sure, Pierre Terblanche’s design language didn’t resonate that well with the two-wheeler industry this time around, but that’s not to say that 900SS is, in any way, a bad ride!

It is brought to life by a vicious four-stroke SOHC L-twin powerplant, with a desmodromic valvetrain setup and an astronomical displacement of 904cc. This nasty animal boasts a compression ratio of 9.2:1 and two valves per cylinder head. As you'd expect from Ducati’s mills, the air-cooled monstrosity is fed by a Marelli fuel injection kit.

At approximately 7,500 rpm, this feral piece of Italian machinery is capable of generating up to 78 bhp, accompanied by a generous torque output of 57 pound-feet (77 Nm) at 6,500 revs. The engine’s unforgiving force is channeled to a chain final drive by means of a six-speed gearbox. As a result, the 900SS is blessed with a remarkable top speed of 143 mph (230 kph), while its quarter mile time is rated at just 11.4 seconds.

The powertrain is hugged by a tubular steel trestle frame, which rests on 43 mm (1.7 inches) Showa inverted forks up front, along with a single fully-adjustable shock absorber and a double-sided swingarm at the rear. This whole shebang permits 4.7 inches (120 mm) of front wheel travel, while the rear unit is honored with as much as 5.4 inches of travel. Braking duties are taken care of by dual 320 mm (12.6 inches) discs and four-piston calipers at the front, joined by a 245 mm (9.65 inches) rotor and a two-piston caliper on the opposite end.

All things considered, the 900SS is no toy, alright? On the contrary, Ducati’s beast is one capable entity that deserves more love than it ever got. When looking to embark on a custom adventure, many a workshop tend to overlook this bike in favor of behemoths such as the fiendish Monster or the almighty Panigale. However, an ambitious Australian firm named Ellaspede isn’t one of them!

The Brisbane-based enterprise was fully determined to extract some hidden potential out of a 2001 900SS, and the results of their painstaking efforts are genuinely outstanding. For starters, they tasked the pros over at Bike Therapy with refurbishing the 904cc L-twin leviathan to have it perform like a marvel.

Ellaspede continued by removing each and every last piece of factory bodywork, except the fuel tank and stock fenders. After disposing of 900SS’ original panels, the following step consisted of concealing its hideous wiring to achieve a tidy aesthetic.

Additionally, they chopped any unnecessary mounting points off the frame and tweaked the subframe to accommodate a custom aluminum wasp-style tail section. Needless to say, the latter does a neat job at complementing the gas tank’s curves. The tail also houses an integrated aftermarket lighting package.

At the front, you will find a one-off alloy fairing that hosts a pair of juicy projector headlights, as well as a tiny gauge module from Acewell’s catalogue. Furthermore, we notice fresh Oberon mirrors and Ducabike rear-mounted foot pegs, besides a Motogadget M-lock keyless ignition and a new license plate holder from Ellaspede’s very own inventory.

Last but not least, the exhaust system received a set of tasty carbon fiber mufflers and the wheels were enveloped in top-grade Michelin Pilot Road 4 tires. To top it all off, the Aussies treated their reborn ‘01 Ducati 900SS to a gorgeous pearlescent white finish.

Right, if this magnificent venture stirred your curiosity about the workshop’s other projects, I’d strongly encourage that you head over to their Facebook and Instagram profiles. Trust me, your moto-loving eyes will thank you for it!